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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. A. MITCHELL. I DEVIGE FOR GONVEYING AND ELBVATING LADLES.

PatentedJan.21,1890.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. A. MITCHELL. DEVICE FOR CONVEYING AND ELEVATING LADLES! N0.-419,698.6 Patented Jan. 21, 1890.

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UNITED STATES ATENT QFFICE.

IVILLIAM A. MITCHELL, OF NEVADA, MISSOURI.

DEVICE FOR CONVEYING AND ELEVATING LADLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 419,698, dated January21, 1890.

Application filed April 17, 1889. Serial No. 307,608. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ALLEN MITCH- ELL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Nevada, in the county of Vernon and State ofMissouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devicesfor Conveying and Elevating Ladles in Furnaces; and I do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to a device for conveying and elevating ladles infurnaces; and the novelty will be fully understood from the followingdescription and claims, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 isa front view of my improved device. Fig. 2is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation. Fig. at is aperspective view of the ladle-platform removed. Fig. 5 is across-sectional view of said platform, taken at the point indicated bythe dotted line as m on Fig. 4:. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail viewshowing the manner of adjusting the main platform, taken at the pointindicated by the dotted line y y on Fig. 2; and Fig. 7 is also a detailview showing one of the rack-bars and pinions whereby the main platformis adjusted.

Referring by letter to the said drawings, A indicates the main frame,which is mounted on a suitable truck, as shown, and this truck isdesigned to travel upon a suitable track arranged between the molds andthe furnace. Secured vertically to each corner upright of the main frameA is a fixed rack a, to receive pinions journaled in the main platform,as will be presently explained.

13 indicates the driving-axles of the truck, one of which is providedwith a chain-gear Z), to receive an endless chain 0, which passes over achain-wheel D, secured to a short horizontal shaft D, journaled in theupper portion of the main frame A. Fixed to this short shaft D, in theupper portion of the main frame, is a hand-wheel E, having handles orhand-levers 8. By this means it will be seen that when the hand-wheelhas been turned by the operator motion will be imparted, through themedium of the endless frame. These shafts are also provided at theirextreme ends with chain-wheels g, and are connected by means of endlesschains h, whereby when motion has been communicated to one of them, bymeans which will be presently explained, it will be imparted, throughthe medium of the said chains h, to the oppo-- site one, so that thepinions thereon will travel in the racks to.

Secured to the main platform F, and preferably at one corner thereof, isa Vertical frame H, which serves as a guide-bearing for a verticalrotatable shaft 1, which carries at its upper end a crank-handle K,whereby the said shaft may be rotated. This vertical shaft, which isstepped in a bearing h, near its lower .end, and passes through theplatform, has fixed to it a worm-gear or endless screw L, which screwmeshes with a gear M fixed to one of the horizontal shafts G. It shouldbe observed-that this vertical shaft, as well as the horizontal shaft G,has its hearing in the platformF, or at least the part h, secured to theplatform, consequently when the said vertical shaft has been turned,both will move simultaneously and together with the platform, therebylifting or lowering the operator according to the position desired atthe furnace.

N indicates an upright frame, which is fixed to the platform F, and isguided in its vertical movement by guide-posts c, rising from the mainframe A. This upright frame N may have the outer sides of its verticalwalls grooved and receive a tongue extend ing from the guide-post t, orthe guiding may be accomplished by other suitable means, so that whenthe main platform has been raised or lowered this upright frame willmove with it.

P indicates a shaft or drum, which is journaled in the uprights of thevertically-movable frame N, and has suspended from it, by means of ropesor cords R, an adjustable and extension table or platform S. The tableor platform S, which is provided with suitable guides, is designed to bemoved by means of the cords and drum up and down in the frame N. Thedrum has a ratchet 7c fixed to it near one end and a ratchet-lever Ujournaled adjacent thereto, so that by manipulating the same the drum orshaft will be turned and the cord wound or unwound thereon, as desired,a safety-lever T being employed to engage the teeth of the ratchet onthe shaft to prevent the ladle platform or table from accidentaldescent. The ratchet-lever U carries a pawl V, pivoted thereto, so thatit may be made to engage the ratchet 7; from different directions towind or unwind the ropes upon the shaft or drum. The base of thisextension table or platform S is provided with ways Z, so that the topor table portion WV may be guided truly in its movements.

1% indicates a shaft, which is journaled in the base-section or undersection of the extension-platform. This shaft is provided at a suitablepoint with a fixed gear n, which meshes with a toothed rack 23, fixed tothe under side of the sliding top W, so as to move the same in or out,as desired. This shaft on is furthermore provided at one end with asmall gear 4", and carries a hand-lever 1.,which has pivoted to it a doga, being so arranged that it may serve to turn the shaft m from eitherdirection, so as to move the platform in or out.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have an apparatuswhereby a ladle of great capacity may be con veniently handled with butlittle labor. It will be seen that the operator may quickly andconveniently trans- .port the apparatus from the furnace to the moldwithout leaving his position and adapt the extension-platform forfurnaces of various heights.

In some cases it may be only necessary to have the extension adjustable,while the main platform may remain fixed.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In an apparatus ofthe character described, the combinationpvith the main frame,

of a vertically-adjustable platform, a vertically adjustable andhorizontally slidable platform carried by the said platform, suitablemeans for propelling the apparatus, and suitable means for raising andlowering the platforms, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the main frame mounted on a truck, of avertically-adjustable platform and a vertically-adj ustable andhorizontally-slidable platform for the ladle carried by the saidplatform, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with the main frame having vertical rack-bars andmounted upon a truck, of the main platform carrying con: nected shaftsprovided with pinions engaging the racks, a vertical shaft carrying aworm-gear or endless screw and engaging a gear on one of the saidplatform-shafts, a gear upon one of the trucleaxles, a shaft mounted onthe main frame, and an endless belt connecting the gear on the lattershaft with the gear on the truck-axle, substantially as specified.

4E. The combination, with the main frame, of the upright frame N,adjustable as described, and the ladle-platform having a slidable top,substantially as specified.

5. The combination, With the main frame, of the upright frame, thevertically-adjustable ladle-platform guided in the latter frame, thedrum journaled in the top thereof and connected by ropes with theladle-platform, and the ladle-platform having a slidable top,substantially as specified.

6. The combinationm'ith the vertically-adj ustable ladle-platform, ofthe shaft j ournaled in the lower section thereof and bearing a fixedpinion, the upper slidable section having the rack fixed to its underside and engaging the pinion on the shaft, the hand-lever 25, j ournaledon the shaft, and the pawl u, pivoted on the hand-lever, substantiallyas specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

W. A. MITCHELL. WVitnesses:

P. T. ABELL, 0. A. N. CAPION.

